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MacRumors has received confirmation that the names of Apple’s latest iPhone models are to be stylized with a capital X, followed by the S or R in Small Caps, which are lowercase characters resembling uppercase letters:

iPhone Xs

iPhone Xs Max

iPhone Xʀ

If the option to use Small Caps is not available, then both the X and S or R are to be stylized in fully capitalized letters:

iPhone XS

iPhone XS Max

iPhone XR

In other words: iPhone Xs, iPhone Xs Max, and iPhone Xr with the final letter being lowercase is incorrect styling.

This might seem like trivial information to report, but there has been quite a bit of confusion over the past week in relation to the proper names of the latest iPhone models. Apple didn’t help the situation, using everything from XS to Xs to Xs in Small Caps on its product pages, press releases, and support documents. Sometimes, the S and R are even in squares.

The final answer, we’re told, is caps XS and XR. Apple even updated its iOS 12 press release, changing Xs and Xr to XS and XR:

iPhone names solved!

I’ve received official confirmation that it is iPhone XS / iPhone XS Max / iPhone XR, capitalized, unless Small Caps are available, in which case it is iPhone Xs / iPhone Xs Max / iPhone Xʀ.

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One year after launching the successful live game show app HQ Trivia, Intermedia Labs is planning a new game called HQ Words. Instead of a basic series of trivia questions and multiple choice answers, HQ Words has a hidden phrase presented in a series of letter blocks that look like the puzzles from “Wheel of Fortune” (via Digiday).

Players will be presented with a clue for each puzzle, and below the empty tiles are letters that they can select to complete it. You’ll get three strikes, and will be awarded for each correct letter you choose. HQ Words will be live, just like HQ Trivia, so every player will be solving the same puzzle at the same time, and those with the most points win the jackpot.

“We’re trying to diversify a bit, and that’s where my skill-set comes in handy. My favorite part of working here is your imagination runs wild when you look at what we’re doing and you apply that to any idea. The sky is the limit, but the challenge is how do we build them,” Kroll said.

The company is hoping that it can avoid some of the problems that have been prevalent in HQ Trivia over the past year, namely including numerous glitches, technical challenges, and cheating. Sponsorships in HQ Words have not yet been mentioned, but given the frequency of sponsors in HQ Trivia, users can likely expect the same for the new game.

A specific launch date for HQ Words was not confirmed, but you should see it appear on the iOS App Store in October.

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Apple today seeded the first beta of an upcoming iOS 12.1 update to developers, just one day after releasing iOS 12, a major new version of the iOS software.

Registered developers can download the new iOS 12.1 beta from Apple’s Developer Center or over-the-air once the proper configuration profile has been installed from the Developer Center.

It’s not clear what features might be included in the iOS 12.1 beta, but Apple removed the Group FaceTime feature from iOS 12 ahead of its launch and promised to introduce it in a future update, which could be iOS 12.1.

The update may also feature new emoji that are said to be in the works and coming in an iOS 12 update later this year.

We’ll update this post with details on the new features that are included in iOS 12.1 once we’ve downloaded the software and have had time to check it out. Apple today also released a new beta version of Xcode, Xcode 10.1.

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Apple today seeded the first beta of an upcoming watchOS 5.1 update to developers, just one day after releasing the new watchOS 5 operating system.

Once the proper configuration profile has been installed from the Apple Developer Center, the new watchOS beta can be downloaded through the dedicated Apple Watch app on the iPhone by going to General -> Software update.

To install the update, the Apple Watch needs to have at least 50 percent battery, it must be placed on the charger, and it has to be in range of the iPhone.

It’s not yet clear what features will be introduced in the watchOS 5.1 update, but it could bring support for answering Group FaceTime calls, a feature that was removed during the beta testing period. New emojis are also an option.

We’ll update this post when we find out what’s new in the watchOS 5.1 update.

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Casio continues to embrace Bluetooth connectivity in its G Shock range, and the latest addition is the GBD-800, an affordable watch with fitness tracking features and a new digital display. This provides more glanceable information than the last G Shock fitness tracking watch, the GBA-800, which was released at the start of 2018.

The Bluetooth low energy link syncs with the G Shock app on your phone, and sends data collected from the three-axis accelerometer inside to provide step tracking, all displayed on a graph. Casio says it breaks down the step count into five metabolic equivalent levels (MET), to help people more effectively measure energy output each day. You can set daily goals inside the app, and view calories burned too.

A redesigned digital display with three rows of information shows the step counter, lap number for runners, and also a total number of laps and steps, along with the expected time and date. Because the GBD-800 is a watch first, rather than an all-out fitness tracker, it has the usual watch features including world time, a stopwatch and timer, five alarms, and a bright backlight. The timer can be used to measure intervals when working out, and in the app there is a 3D map system to show running routes too.

Like the GBA-800 the GBD-800 is a mid-size G Shock watch, therefore should fit most wrists although it will still look large on thin wrists — but then, it’s a G Shock, and that’s the point. Also, as it’s a G Shock, it’s not going to break under pressure due to its shockproof tough body, strong resin strap, and 200 meter water resistance.

The color schemes are more varied, and in some cases less in-your-face, than the GBA-800’s too. The bright blue and orange versions really standout, but the more subtle black and red or grey and green models will appeal to G Shock fans who want to wear the watch each day with a variety of outfits. Europe will get cool black and white models, according to G-Central.

In the U.S. the GBD-800-1 and GBD-800-8 models — that’s the more subtle two tone watches — will be available online and from various retailers in October for $100.

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In an interview with Good Morning America’s Robin Roberts this morning, Apple CEO Tim Cook discussed the new iPhone XS, XS Max, Apple Watch, and the recent exemption of some Apple’s products from President Trump’s proposed tariff on Chinese goods.

Roberts asked Cook about the cost of the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max line, the latter of which is Apple’s most expensive iPhone to date at $1,449 for the 512GB model. Cook explained that monthly payment plans provided by carriers help make the cost of the iPhones easier to digest.

He pointed out that all of the technology included in the iPhone, replacing previous separate gadgets like MP3 players and digital cameras, requires each smartphone to be priced at a premium. Cook also mentioned Apple’s aim to “serve everyone,” which he mentioned in an interview last week.

Roberts: “One model starts at almost $1,100, are you afraid that a group of people are being priced out?”

Cook: “Well we want to make an iPhone for everyone, that’s always been our objective and we’ve got several iPhones in the line and they go down to materially lower. But if you look at this phone, it’s the most advanced iPhone we’ve ever done.

The way most people pay for these…they do a deal with a carrier and they pay so much per month, so if you look at even the phone that’s priced over $1,000, most people pay $30 a month for it, so that’s about $1 a day. And so if you look at it, the phone has replaced your digital camera…it’s replaced your video camera, it’s replaced your music player, it’s replaced all of these different devices. And so arguably the product is really important and we found people want to have the most innovative product available, and…it’s not cheap to do that.”

Cook then discussed the tariff situation, explaining that while the iPhone is assembled in China, parts of the device come from all over the world, including the United States.

The iPhone is assembled in China, but the parts come from everywhere. Including the United States, you know, the glass comes from Kentucky, there are chips that come from the U.S., and of course the research and development is all done in the United States.

So, I don’t want to speak for them, but I think they looked at this and said that it’s not really great for the United States to put a tariff on those type of products.

In regards to potential blowback from the Chinese government on this tariff exemption, and how this could impact consumers, Cook says he’s optimistic that the U.S. and China will sort the situation out.

FULL INTERVIEW: @RobinRoberts is with @tim_cook to talk about the brand new iPhone and Apple Watch–plus they love the new Memoji feature. https://t.co/0wZJnpowI9 pic.twitter.com/BpDyoANSES

— Good Morning America (@GMA) September 18, 2018

The topic then moved onto the company’s record trillion dollar valuation, which it hit in early August, making it the world’s only trillion dollar publicly traded company in terms of market capitalization. Cook says that, from his point of view, Apple “could only have been created in America,” and as such he and his executives feel a responsibility to help the country thrive, including creating jobs and encouraging coding in public schools.

“And so we do that in terms of creating jobs, we’ve created 2 million jobs in America. We want to create even more, we’re investing $350 billion in the country over the next five years and we’re starting up facilities in a number of different places. We’re really proud of that contribution, but we want to do more.

You can visit Good Morning America’s Twitter account to watch the full interview, which also includes a discussion of the iPhone XS camera, Memoji, the Apple Watch Series 4’s ECG monitor, fall detection, and more.

Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

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Twitter recently confirmed that it is bringing back the classic reverse chronological timeline as an option for its users.

In a series of Tweets sent by @TwitterSupport, the company explained that while it tries to balance showing you the “best” Tweets with the most recent Tweets, it “doesn’t always get this balance right” (via TechCrunch).

Following user frustration with this curated selection of Tweets — which is sometimes mixed in with ads, Tweets your friends like, and more — the company says it will soon provide an easily accessible way to switch between a timeline of Tweets that are most relevant for you and a timeline of the latest Tweets. The reverse chronological timeline option will come in the form of a test for some users “in the coming weeks.”

4/ So, we’re working on providing you with an easily accessible way to switch between a timeline of Tweets that are most relevant for you and a timeline of the latest Tweets. You’ll see us test this in the coming weeks.

— Twitter Support (@TwitterSupport) September 17, 2018

Twitter will introduce a stopgap solution before the full reverse chronological setting has launched. To do this, Twitter updated the “Show the best Tweets first” setting so that when you toggle it off, you’ll only see Tweets from people you follow in reverse chronological order. Before when this was turned off, you’d also see “In case you missed it” Tweets and recommended Tweets from people you don’t follow — now all of this won’t show up.

The company didn’t divulge when the full and “easier-to-access” reverse chronological timeline setting will launch, but says it will announce further details via @TwitterSupport.

Twitter first rolled out its algorithm-focused timeline in early 2016, curating Tweets for each user based on their activity and ditching the simple reverse chronological flow of Tweets. The company tried to allow some form of customization with buttons that trained the algorithm for Tweets you might not like, but many users still opted for third-party apps like Tweetbot, which stick to a reverse chronological format and don’t include ads, “In case you missed it,” recommended Tweets, etc.

Tag: TwitterDiscuss this article in our forums

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Now that we’re just three days away from the launch of the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max, Apple has given the green light for publications and YouTubers to publish full reviews and unboxing videos of its latest smartphones. In this post, we’ve rounded up a few unboxing videos that were shared early this morning, most of which focus on the all-new gold color of the iPhone XS and XS Max.

If you’ve ever owned an iPhone, it appears that the contents of the box for the iPhone XS and XS Max won’t be too surprising. The box art showcases the edge-to-edge OLED display of each device and simply says “iPhone” on the sides. If you buy the gold color, the iPhone and Apple logos are also subtly tinted with gold coloring.

Inside the box for both the iPhone XS and XS Max you’ll find paperwork, Apple stickers, the iPhone itself, the EarPods (with no Lightning-to-3.5mm dongle), an AC adapter, and a Lightning cable.

YouTuber Jonathan Morrison notes that one difference is that in the box for the iPhone XS the AC adapter sits above the EarPods, but for the iPhone XS Max Apple has swapped this positioning. Morrison also gave a quick impression of the faster Face ID in iPhone XS, stating that while it won’t make an iPhone X feel slow in comparison it is noticeably zippy and worked perfectly even in low light.

Marques Brownlee unboxed the 512GB iPhone XS Max and iPhone XS in Gold, sharing a quick glimpse at three live wallpapers that are exclusive to the new iPhones. The wallpapers are all a play on the planetoid imagery seen since the first iPhone XS leak, with different colors including a green and purple planet, all subtly hiding the iPhone XS’ notch.

iJustine compared the various gold colors that Apple has introduced over the years, showcasing the noticable difference between the yellow tones of the gold on the iPhone 6s and the darker gold on the iPhone XS. The iPhone 8’s gold is closer to that of the iPhone XS, but appears to be slightly lighter. iJustine also showed off a few of Apple’s leather cases, including Saddle Brown and Cape Cod Blue.

For full impressions on the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max, you can check out a few reviews which we’ve rounded up right here. The overall consensus appears to be that the iPhone XS is a worthy upgrade for users on older model iPhones, but numerous publications mention that waiting for the cheaper iPhone XR to launch in October might make more sense for many customers.

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iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max reviews have hit the web, three days before the smartphones are released in stores.

2018 is what is known as a “S” year—hence the XS branding—in which Apple retains the same physical design of the iPhone, for the most part, and instead focuses on internal improvements to the display, camera, performance, and so forth. Previous examples include the iPhone 4s, iPhone 5s, and iPhone 6s series.

Not only that, but Apple said last year’s iPhone X set the standard for the next decade of the smartphone, with its premium design and nearly edge-to-edge display, leaving the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max with big shoes to fill.

All that considered, let’s dive in and see how they stack up.

After nearly six days of trying out the devices, many media outlets agree that the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max are “evolutionary, not revolutionary,” as Wired’s Lauren Goode put it. TechCrunch’s Matthew Panzarino went as far as labeling the smaller-sized iPhone XS as “one of Apple’s most ‘S’ models ever.”

That’s not necessarily a bad thing. As in many “S” years, if you already own the previous-year’s device—in this case the iPhone X—Panzarino said there are only “about a half-dozen definitive improvements” in the iPhone XS. But, for customers upgrading from an older iPhone, he said they’ll be in for “a huge win.”

As an upgrade over an iPhone X, I’d say you’re going to have to love what they’ve done with the camera to want to make the jump. As a move from any other device, it’s a huge win and you’re going head-first into sculpted OLED screens, face recognition and super durable gesture-first interfaces and a bunch of other genre-defining moves that Apple made in 2017, thinking about 2030, while you were sitting back there in 2016.

In terms of specific features, The Verge’s Nilay Patel has good impressions about Face ID, the rear camera, performance, battery life, and more. As he reminds readers, the only differences with the iPhone XS Max versus the smaller iPhone XS are its larger 6.5-inch display and longer battery life.

Patel on Face ID:

Other than the minor speed increase and secondary appearance support, Face ID is still Face ID: it doesn’t work in landscape or upside down or anything like that. If you wear glasses like me, you’ll still have to enter your passcode every morning when you wake up because you’re holding the phone too close to your face for it to work. And sunglasses that block IR light will still prevent it from working — Apple says it’s working with sunglass makers to ship new kinds of sunglasses that support Face ID.

On the rear camera:

The camera upgrades on the XS over the X are significant — the XS makes the X camera look terrible most of the time. But we’ve been saying the best smartphone camera on the market is Google’s Pixel 2 for a year now, so that’s the standard to beat. And… I think the Pixel 2 still has a better camera than the iPhone XS. Don’t get me wrong — most people are going to like the photos they get out of the iPhone XS. It has a solid camera, and I prefer it to the Galaxy S9. But compared to the Pixel 2, the XS doesn’t really do it for me.

Performance:

Last year’s iPhone X had an A11 Bionic chip, and this year’s iPhone XS has an A12 Bionic. In terms of CPU performance, the A12 really isn’t that much faster: Apple only quotes a 15 percent performance improvement, and I didn’t really see a noticeable speedup over my iPhone X.

Battery life:

I mostly tested the XS Max, and it did great — better than even Apple’s claim of 90 minutes more than the X. In fact, I got a full 12 hours of battery life out of the XS Max without low power mode, and that’s even under my heavy daily use of constant Slack and email usage, video watching, photo taking, and browsing. The smaller XS is rated to get 30 minutes more than the X, which has run for about 8 hours for me this past year. It’s solid.

If you are a diehard Apple fan who can’t wait to get your hands on the latest and greatest iPhone, you’re probably going to choose the iPhone XS, or specifically the iPhone XS Max, regardless. For others, it may be best to wait until Friday, October 19, when the lower-priced iPhone XR becomes available to order.

iPhone XR is often described as the iPhone X for the rest of us. While reviews of the device are not out today, we know it has a nearly edge-to-edge display, Face ID, glass casing, wireless charging, and many other advantages of the iPhone XS, including new camera features such as Depth Control and Smart HDR.

CNET’s Scott Stein:

Both the iPhone XS and XS Max are great phones, fantastic refinements and incredibly promising hubs for your super-connected universe. As you’d expect, they’re the best iPhones at the moment. But here’s the twist: That third new iPhone, the iPhone XR, may be the best pick for anyone upgrading from any iPhone other than the 2017 iPhone X.

It has many of the same features as the XS, but with a larger yet lower-resolution 6.1-inch LCD screen compared to the XS, and — according to Apple — better battery life. And it’s $250 cheaper to start — only $50 more than the iPhone 8’s starting price this time last year.

The Wall Street Journal’s Joanna Stern:

The new iPhone XS and XS Max are great phones but the XR, due out in October, sounds more like a great deal…

Imagine Goldilocks only tested the cold and hot porridges and never found the one that was “just right.” Her life might have been entirely different. That’s how I feel about testing the iPhone XS and XS Max—without the iPhone XR—for the past week…

Many other publications have shared iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max reviews that are worth a read. We’ve rounded up links below.

The New York Times

Mashable

USA Today

CNBC

TechRadar

Tom’s Guide

The Telegraph

iNews

Pocket-lint

iPhone and iPhone XS will go on sale, and begin arriving to customers, this Friday. For those who decide to wait for the iPhone XR, reviews of that device will likely hit the web a few days before its October 26 release date.